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Wildlife and Trade Working Group |
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Chair: Rob Atkinson,
RSPCA
Vice Chair: Cathy Williamson, Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society
Secretary: Alexia Wellbelove |
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The Wildlife and Trade
Working Group aims to improve conservation of species threatened by
international trade and to provide a forum for NGOs in the UK to explore key economic,
social and environmental trends affecting endangered species conservation.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is a key
focus and the group continues to call for greater transparency in EU
decision making around CITES issues. Link engages directly with Defra in the
run-up to Conferences of Parties in relation to species proposals and
resolutions, seeking to influence the UK Government's input into CITES and
the implementation of such Conventions in the UK. |
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Quarterly Update:
April to June 2008 |
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In
April Link sent a letter to the Minister, Joan Ruddock MP, regarding the
bird registration scheme, reiterating our call for the registration of
non-native species in the scheme for conservation purposes. A response to
this letter was received in June, in which Joan Ruddock informed Link that
she felt further regulatory controls on top of the EU ban on wild imports,
would not assist in the conservation of these species. |
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Members of the
Wildlife and Trade Working Group attended the Defra Joint Liaison Group
meeting on 10th June, at which updates from recent EU and CITES
meetings were provided together with an update on legislation. A detailed
discussion of the forthcoming meetings (particularly the EU Management
Committee and CITES Standing Committee) was also held, with Link members
raising key issues for the UK. |
